Bookended by storms

After being chased up the coast by Hurricane Ian, we spent October enjoying South Carolina and getting some chores done on the boat (not to mention Susie got glasses – welcome to a new decade). Following some delays that were out of our control, what happened when it was time to depart? Yep. Hurricane Nicole! Really?

We made our preparations for Hurricane Ian – removed the enclosures, secured the dinghjy, put out extra fenders, spidered the lines, and waited. Fortunately, for those of us at Lady’s Island Marina, there was no damage. We know others didn’t fare as well, and we feel for them.

So, what have we been doing between the stormy bookends of Ian and Nicole? Well, since we’ve been remiss in posting, we’ll split this long month into two entries. For this post, let’s highlight the fun stuff. As the weather shifted back and forth between warm and cool, we went ‘xploring in the area!

Chapel of Ease ruins, Saint Helena Island, SC

During the Colonial period, “chapels of ease” were constructed by planters out on the islands as houses of worship because their plantations were located so far from the town churches. This one was built around 1740 and served the island parishioners until it was heavily damaged in a forest fire in 1886.

Fort Fremont, Saint Helena Island, SC

At the turn of the 20th century, Port Royal Naval Station was built off the deepest natural harbor on the east coast. They built the only dry dock in the southeast big enough to repair the largest of Navy ships, the battleships. Important right? Well, across the bay, Fort Fremont was constructed in 1898 to protect this important facility. Super important at the time, but political winds changed, and it was pretty much shut down by 1906 as Charleston Harbor got dredged to become the hub.

Hunting Island State Park, SC

Hunting Island State Park – that’s right, it was a real hunting spot! Nowadays, it attracts more than a million visitors a year for its five miles of pristine beach. Prime pickings for shells and sharks’ teeth and a cool lighthouse!